Iran has claimed that its forces successfully shot down a US A-10 ground-attack aircraft, Al Jazeera reported. The country released a video purportedly showing the exact moment the American warplane was struck by a missile fired from Iran’s integrated air-defence system.
Sharing the footage on X, the Consulate General of Iran in Mumbai stated, “Footage of the exact moment an American A-10 warplane is struck by an air-defence missile fired by the Iranian Army’s integrated air-defence system.”
Footage of the exact moment an American A-10 warplane is struck by an air defense missile fired by the Iranian Army’s integrated air defense system.#Iran#WAR#AirDefense#A10 https://t.co/q8fUc3Ugar pic.twitter.com/49k5yu57aB
— Consulate General of the I.R. Iran in Mumbai (@IRANinMumbai) April 4, 2026
According to media reports, the A-10 was hit and later crashed after reaching Kuwaiti airspace, where the pilot safely ejected. NBC News confirmed that the pilot survived, while the aircraft was lost in Kuwait.
Earlier on Friday, a spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said that Iranian air defences had also destroyed a US F-15 jet.
Several military websites noted that the A-10C Thunderbolt II is designed for close air support, renowned for its manoeuvrability at low speeds and altitudes, precision targeting, and ability to operate in challenging conditions while remaining over combat zones for extended periods.
Iran also reportedly struck two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters involved in search and rescue operations. The attacks caused minor injuries to US personnel, but all service members are reported to be safe.
In total, Iran claims to have downed two US aircraft, the F-15 and the A-10, and struck two helicopters within a single day—less than 48 hours after President Donald Trump stated that Iran had been “completely decimated.”
One of the two crew members of a downed US F-15E has been rescued by American military helicopters, US officials told CBS News. The search for the second crew member, a weapons systems officer, is ongoing.
During the operation, the helicopter carrying the recovered pilot came under small-arms fire, causing injuries to some personnel on board. The aircraft landed safely, and all injured service members are receiving medical treatment before being transferred for further care.
